How much does a tutor make?
The median tutor in the United States earns $40,090 per year, about $19.27 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tutors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 25-3041.
Tutor salary range
Pay for tutors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,430 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $78,810. The average (mean) wage of $47,780 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,430 | $13.67 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $33,410 | $16.06 | |
| Median (50th) | $40,090 | $19.27 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $55,380 | $26.62 | |
| 90th percentile | $78,810 | $37.89 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tutors (SOC 25-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Tutor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tutors earn the most in Wyoming at $64,450 a year, and the least in Texas at $29,200. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $64,450 | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $59,340 | 340 |
| Massachusetts | $57,230 | 5,550 |
| Connecticut | $55,690 | 2,540 |
| Mississippi | $52,060 | 1,080 |
| Virginia | $49,380 | 3,540 |
| New Hampshire | $49,210 | 800 |
| Maine | $49,110 | 270 |
| Vermont | $47,860 | 170 |
| Maryland | $47,010 | 3,480 |
| Oregon | $46,770 | 1,180 |
| Indiana | $46,670 | 1,850 |
| Ohio | $44,640 | 7,120 |
| Washington | $44,450 | 2,300 |
| Arizona | $44,220 | 3,110 |
| New York | $43,270 | 12,140 |
| California | $42,840 | 45,690 |
| Colorado | $42,560 | 2,590 |
| West Virginia | $42,420 | 300 |
| Alaska | $42,090 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $41,600 | 1,470 |
| North Dakota | $41,580 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,560 | 4,350 |
| Georgia | $41,540 | 7,210 |
| Tennessee | $40,680 | 2,890 |
| Montana | $40,660 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $39,900 | 5,940 |
| Nebraska | $39,800 | 700 |
| Florida | $38,120 | 11,580 |
| South Dakota | $37,330 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $37,220 | 5,370 |
| Wisconsin | $37,100 | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $36,860 | 1,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,990 | 2,250 |
| Kentucky | $35,930 | 730 |
| Michigan | $35,870 | 5,940 |
| Utah | $35,460 | 1,950 |
| Illinois | $35,350 | 6,330 |
| New Mexico | $35,180 | 480 |
| Iowa | $34,940 | 630 |
| Idaho | $34,100 | 610 |
| Kansas | $33,420 | 910 |
| Missouri | $33,300 | 2,040 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | 490 |
| Alabama | $31,160 | 990 |
| Arkansas | $30,670 | 390 |
| Oklahoma | $30,540 | 1,470 |
| Louisiana | $30,100 | 490 |
| Nevada | $29,590 | 840 |
| Texas | $29,200 | 9,790 |
State median wages for tutors (SOC 25-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tutors
The BLS projects employment of tutors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 208,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 208,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 34,200 openings a year for tutors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tutor
The typical entry-level education for tutors is some college but no degree, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tutor earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Wyoming, $64,450) and the lowest (Texas, $29,200) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 174,660 people work as tutors in the United States. At $40,090 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tutor salary FAQ
How much does a tutor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tutor is $19.27. The middle half of tutors earn between $16.06 and $26.62 per hour.
What is the highest tutor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tutors earn more than $78,810 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tutor make a year?
The median annual salary for a tutor is $40,090. The average (mean) wage of $47,780 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tutor a well paid job?
At $40,090 a year, a tutor earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 174,660 people work as tutors in the United States.
Which state pays tutors the most?
Wyoming has the highest median salary for tutors at $64,450 a year. Rhode Island ($59,340) and Massachusetts ($57,230) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a tutor a good career?
Employment of tutors is projected to shrink 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 34,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tutor?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tutors as some college but no degree, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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